Starting To Also Think It’s Time

[HawkIowa44]

You are free to believe me or not, but up until a week and a half ago I'd have said the exact same thing.

It will never get described publicly as a push out, but I can tell you for certain that the Iowa athletic dept is pursuing a certain individual aggressively. That hasn't come from anyone on this board, btw. I have had one person here tell me something that's kinda sorta similar, but I don't take anything said by posters here seriously, myself included.

Whether that individual can be persuaded is up to them.

The only person I see in this scenario would be Pat Fitzgerald. Now that his Northwestern case has been finalized, he'll have a few decent offers out there and probably doesn't want to wait another year. I can't think of anyone else that Iowa could be tied too that's big enough of a name that would have mutual interest with. Plus his son plays here too.

 

[SwirlinLingerie]

The only person I see in this scenario would be Pat Fitzgerald. Now that his Northwestern case has been finalized, he'll have a few decent offers out there and probably doesn't want to wait another year. I can't think of anyone else that Iowa could be tied too that's big enough of a name that would have mutual interest with. Plus his son plays here too.

Not the worst thought, but I don't see it. Fitz would be a hire that you hope keeps you at 9-4 and 8-5; not someone you push Kirk out for. Plus, more importantly, I don't think Fitz would have anything to do with any conversation that he sensed might result in Kirk getting pushed out before he was ready.

 

[haydensly]

You are free to believe me or not, but up until a week and a half ago I'd have said the exact same thing.

It will never get described publicly as a push out, but I can tell you for certain that the Iowa athletic dept is pursuing a certain individual aggressively. That hasn't come from anyone on this board, btw. I have had one person here tell me something that's kinda sorta similar, but I don't take anything said by posters here seriously, myself included.

Whether that individual can be persuaded is up to them.

If this ends up being the case, will KF accept a lower buyout? Because otherwise he would be owed in the neighborhood of $25 million. And unlike Penn State, there would not be any offset (they ended up owing Franklin "only" $9 million). Seems like a lot for Iowa to raise.

If this individual passes on the opportunity, will we ever learn his identity?

 

[SwirlinLingerie]

If it is true that the athletic department is pursuing a candidate, and they don't pull it off this year, then I think there is a good chance Kirk quits in April-June. I think he'd tell his staff around March or so, ask them to stay quiet about it for the time being but give them a heads-up to start networking for a December 2026 job change. And then I think he'd go to the administration in April-June and say he is stepping down. At that point, they'd just need to roll with the staff in place and likely name Lester interim coach. That way Kirk would have bought about 9 months for his staff to think about their next move, vs. having no notice at all (which is what typically happens).

I don't see Kirk sticking around if this attempted coup is in fact underway.

 

[SwirlinLingerie]

Also, is it unreasonable to think the following? Kirk very discreetly let Wilson and Goetz know his thought process, that he is ready to step down after the season and he'd like to make his strong recommendation that Wallace be given the gig and that Kirk will help with the transition.

And Wilson and Goetz thanked him for his transparency, and said they'd certainly interview any internal candidates Kirk recommended, including Wallace. (And pretty much left it at that, giving him no assurance of what will go down). Behind the scenes, Goetz has a short list of coaches, with one particular candidate at the top. Wilson and Goetz have started very discreet, background convos with this person.

And somehow that bounces around through a game of telephone, makes it way to Hawkeye Nation, and what comes out is that Goetz is targeting an individual to replace Kirk?

 

[SCHawkeye2]

I think it will be Fitz.